FAA thinking about not allowing lap babies on planes any more...

DH and I work for the airlines. He had a staff meeting this week, and his boss and his boss's boss were saying that the FAA is thinking about not allowing lap babies on planes anymore. So, the under 2 and not needing a seat would be gone. Everyone on the plane would be required to purchase a seat.

I don't know if they are really considering it because its through the grape vine. But What do you all think if it is true or a possibility?

I think its a wonderful idea. I don't understand the argument well I can't afford a ticket for my baby. I think your basically putting a price on your child's life. Yes I know incidents on the plane are very slim (I'm a flight attendant) compared to a car, and that air travel is the safest way to travel, something can still happen.

Comments (252)

I would honestly have not gone home. Having 2 babies at the same time would have stopped us from seeing our family at all. We are military and do not have the choice of living close to home. ANd our family can not follow us around the world. We would not have been able to fly home.

Plus of all the babies we have flown with and all the babies we have seen with their own seats very very few were actually sitting in them unless they were asleep. that many hours a baby is going to want to be held.

Yes shit can happen, always can. Luckily I am not having any more kids but if I were I would probably stop flying.

We're travling for the first time with our 4 month old and we bought her a seat too. it just seemed to make sense for us to have a whole 3 seats to ourselves for the 2.5 hour flight. I didnt want anyone to be bothered, and my LO to have space.

I can sort of see their point, but I have traveled with my DD (she is 1.5) four times (once out of the U.S. and we had to pay extra for that anyway) but honestly, when she was really little she was in my lap the whole time breast feeding and I would have been a little ticked about paying for a seat I didn't use. We are taking a trip (again out of the U.S.) this winter and I must admit I am happy that I squeeze in under the deadline to not have to pay for an extra seat that she won't sit in it anyway...

US carriers do offer bassinets for over seas flights. They don't offer belly bands because their not safe. Your child because a human air bag. (Also why you can't use a carrier for take off and landing). Foreign carriers need to take a clue on the belly bands.

What does your infant ride in for a 12 hour car ride? Their car seat right? You would just make stops during the trip to get them out, feed, change them. Samething would be for flying. You could take your baby out of the car seat in the air.

For me, it comes down to a basic cost-benefit analysis. I think the incidence of accident is sufficiently low that the cost of purchasing a ticket for an infant (who probably won't sit in the seat much anyway) would outweigh the benefit of the added safety.

I realize there are people who have a different threshold for acceptable risk than I do, but I do not think having a lap child is enough of a risk to warrant the additional requirement. People who are not comfortable with their children on their lap have the option of purchasing another seat. Air travel is far safer than car travel, so the same safety standards should not be mandated.

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"The purpose ... was to stir the pot. Do not let her make you into the spoon." - Daffodildaisy